Kings of Judah (Jerusalem)

'And that night the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at Nineveh.'
2 Kings 19:35-36.

Here is the chronology of the kings of Judah. There are some lines of text that are colour red and labelled 'Error', which can be seen on the last lines of text for kings Abijam to up to Hezekiah. These lines show the differences (called delta which is shown by the little red triangle symbol Δ) between the comparative and continuous dates given in the bible. For further explanation on comparative and continuous dating, and delta values see the section in 'The Kings of Judah and Israel Part 1'. Unlike the timeline for the kings of Israel there has been no interregnums added to the timeline of the kings of Judah so there is only one set of values for delta.

I have also included the conventional dates as given by Edwin R. Thiele in "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings", this will not agree with my figures here as Thiele includes co-regencies while I haven't and I have inserted interregna where I thought it was necessary into the timeline of the Kings of Israel. Also there is a more complicated concept of the length of some of the kings' reigns in regards to taking in to account non-accession and accession regal time reckoning methods, which I was unaware of previously.

Israel's Entry into Egypt: 2238 years.
Date of Exodus: 2238 years plus 430 years = 2668 years.
Building of the Temple: 2668 years plus 480 years = 3148 years.
Start of Solomon's reign: 3148 years minus 4 years = 3144 years.
End of Solomon's reign: 3148 years plus 40 years = 3184 years.

1. Rehoboam (son of Solomon)

Reigned 17 years (3184 - 3201) 'Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there.' 1 Kings 14:21.

'In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house; he took away everything.' 1 Kings 14:25-26.

Chronology: 3184 years plus 17 years = 3201 years.

2. Abijam (son of Rehoboam)

Reigned 3 years (3201 - 3204) 'Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem' 1 Kings 15:1-2.

'And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam [king of Israel].' 1 Kings 15:7.

Chronology: 3201 years plus 3 years = 3204 years.
Error: The eighteenth year of Jeroboam is 3202 (3184 + 18) Δ +1.

3. Asa (son of Abijam)

Reigned 41 years (3204 - 3245) 'In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel Asa began to reign over Judah, and he reigned for forty-one years in Jerusalem.' 1 Kings 15:9-10.

'And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.' 1 kings 15:16.

'Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house, and gave them into the hands of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, "Let there be a league between me and you, as between my father and your father: behold, I am sending you a present of silver and gold; go, break you league with Baasha king of Israel, that he might with draw from me." 1 kings 15:18-19.

Chronology: 3204 years plus 41 years = 3245 years.
Error: The twentieth year of Jeroboam is 3204 (3184 + 20) Δ 0.

4. Jehoshaphat (son of Asa)

Reigned 25 years (3245 - 3270) 'Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem.'1 Kings 22:41-42.

'In the third year of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel [Ahab]. And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me and battle at Ramoth-gilead?" 1Kings 22:4.

'So the king of Israel [Ahab] and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.' 1 Kings 22:29.

Chronology: 3245 years plus 25 years = 3270 years.
Error: The fourth year of Ahab is 3250 (3246 + 4) Δ +5.

5. Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat)

Reigned 8 years (3270 - 3278) 'In the fifth year of Joram [Jehoram] the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah began to reign. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.' 2 Kings 8:16-18.

Presumably Jehoram's wife was Athaliah.

Chronology: 3270 years plus 8 years = 3278 years.
Error: The fifth year of Joram is 3275 (3270 + 5) Δ +5.

6. Ahaziah (son of Jehoram)

Reigned 1 years (3278 - 3279) 'In the twelfth year of Joram [Jehoram] the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram [the son of Jehoshaphat], king of Judah, began to reign. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.' 2 Kings 8:26.

'In the eleventh year of Joram [king of Israel] the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.' 2 Kings 9:29.

The two quotes above do not agree with each other about whether it is the twelfth or the eleventh year of Joram that Ahaziah's reign begins.

'When Ahaziah [the son of Jehoram] the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Bethhaggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, "Shoot him also"; and they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and he died there.' 2 Kings 9:27.

Chronology: 3278 years plus 1 year = 3279 years.
Error: The twelfth year of Joram is 3282 (3270 + 12) Δ +4.

7. Athaliah (mother of Ahaziah, granddaughter of Omri)

Reigned 7 years (3279 - 3286) 'Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family, but Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Jo'ash [Jehoash] the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away.........and he remained with her six years.........while Athaliah reigned over the land.' 2 Kings 11:2-3.

'But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains....and showed them the king's son [Jo'ash].' 2 Kings 11:4.

Chronology: 3279 years plus 7 years = 3286 years.

8. Jehoash (known also as Joash, son of Ahaziah)

Reigned 40 years (3286 - 3326) 'Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign. In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 11:21 - 12:1.

Chronology: 3286 years plus 40 years = 3326 years.
Error: The seventh year of Jehu is 3289 (3282 + 7) Δ +3.

9. Amaziah (son of Joash)

Reigned 29 years (3326 - 3355) 'In the second year of Jo'ash the son of Jo'ahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Jo'ash, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 14:1-2.

Chronology: 3326 years plus 29 years = 3355 years.
Error 1: The second year of Joash is 3329 (3327 + 2) Δ +3.

Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived 15 years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel 2 Kings 14:17.

Error 2: Fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash is 3358 (3343 + 15) Δ +3.

10. Azariah (also known as Uzziah, son of Amaziah)

Reigned 52 years (3355 - 3407) 'In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 15:1-2, 2 Chr 26:1-3.

In Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews IX ch.2 v216) he gives the start of Azariah's reign as being in the fourteenth year of Jeroboam and this figure is more agreeable to the comparative dating count, and this is the one I would assume to be correct.

'And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death and he dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land.' 2 Kings 15:5.

Chronology: 3355 years plus 52 years = 3407 years.
Biblical Error: The twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam is 3370 (3343 + 27) Δ -15.
Josephus' Error: The fourteenth year of Jeroboam is 3357 (3343 + 14) Δ -2.

11. Jotham (son of Azariah)

Reigned 16 years (3407 - 3423) 'In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah [Azariah] king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 15:32-33.

Chronology: 3407 years plus 16 years = 3423 years.
Error: The second year of Pekah is 3410 (3408 + 2) Δ +3.

12. Ahaz (son of Jotham)

Reigned 16 years (3423 - 3439) 'In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 16:1-2.

Chronology: 3423 years plus 16 years = 3439 years.
Error: The seventeenth year of Pekah is 3425 (3408 + 17) Δ +2.

13. Hezekiah (son of Ahaz)

Reigned 29 years (3439 - 3468) 'In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 18:1-2.

Error: The third year of Hoshea is 3438 (3435 + 3) Δ -1.

'In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.' 2 Kings 18:13.

'And that night the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of assyria departed, and went home, and dwelt at Nineveh.' 2 Kings 19:35-36.

'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.' Isaiah 38:5.

'"Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps." So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.' Isaiah 38:8.

Chronology: 3439 years plus 29 years = 3468 years.

14. Manasseh (son of Hezekiah)

Reigned 55 years (3468 - 3523) 'Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 21:1.

Chronology: 3468 years plus 55 years = 3523 years.

15. Amon (son of Manasseh)

Reigned 2 years (3523 - 3525) 'Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 21:19.

Chronology: 3523 years plus 2 years = 3525 years.

16. Josiah (son of Amon)

Reigned 31 years (3525 - 3556) 'Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 22:1.

"I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord" 2 Kings 22:8.

'In his days Pharaoh Neco of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him; and Pharaoh Neco slew him at Megiddo' 2 Kings 23:29.

Chronology: 3525 years plus 31 years = 3556 years.

17. Jehoahaz (son of Josiah)

Reigned 3 months (3556) 'Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, amd he reigned three months in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 23:31.

'And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem.' 2 King 23:33.

Chronology: 3556 years plus 3 months = 3556 years.

18. Jehoiakim (also known as Eliakim, son of Josiah)

Reigned 11 years (3556 - 3567) 'Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 23:36.

Pharaoh Neco made him king 2 Kings 23:34.

'In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant.' 2 Kings 24:1.

Chronology: 3556 years plus 11 years = 3567 years.

19. Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim)

Reigned 3 months (3567) 'Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 24:8.

'The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign,and carried off all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house.' 2 Kings 24:12-13.

Chronology: 3567 years plus 3 months = 3567 years.

Presumably this was the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon as Jehoiachin only rules for 3 months; though to be honest the name of this king of Judah does seem very similar to the name of the previous king of Judah Jehoiakim.

20. Zedekiah (originally known as Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle)

Reigned 11 years (3567 - 3578) 'Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 24:18.

'Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up with all his army against Jerusalem......he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon.' 2 Kings 25:1-7.

'[In] the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar - Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard...burned the house of the Lord, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem.' 2 Kings 25:8-9.

Chronology: 3567 years plus 11 years = 3578 years.

'And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah...Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.' 2 Kings 25:27.

Assuming that the 37 years start at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah in 3567.

Chronology: 3567 years plus 37 years = 3604 years. (3453 - 3604) + 701 = 550 BC.

This is ten years out with the official dating of Evil-Merodach's reign which was supposed to be 561-560 BC. So this biblical chronology is ten years later than it should be.